Cowboys take up AK47s to combat drug runners on Mexican frontier

News Telegraph (UK) ^ | 20/11/2005 | Philip Sherwell

[fallujah-nuker]

Cowboys take up AK47s to combat drug runners on Mexican frontier By Philip Sherwell, near Nogales, Arizona (Filed: 20/11/2005)

As he careered along the rock-strewn gulley towards his silver mine deep in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona, Roger McCaslin first checked his bowie knife, then his pistol, and finally his Kalashnikov. From the road, he had already noticed that something was wrong.

Under the harsh sun, Mr McCaslin's black cowboy hat cast a shadow over his droopy moustache and a face so deeply creased that it resembled cracked saddle leather.

Welcome to the Wild West 2005, where modern-day cowboys still guard their land from interlopers - but using AK47s and four-wheel drives instead of Winchester rifles and horses.

Mr McCaslin's small mine sits on a knoll of red earth and scrub near the Mexican border. Like his 19th-century predecessors, he is sure there is money in "them thar hills" after a geological survey indicated there may be rich veins of silver.

Today, however, he has other priorities. For the mine also sits in the middle of a network of trails used by heavily-armed Mexican trafficking gangs to smuggle people and drugs into America.

"The gate's broken and the door on the trailer's open. They've been here, I know it," he said ominously. "I just hope they've moved on - for their sake."

[fallujah-nuker]

copywrite.

[wvobiwan]

Hope they got a taste of good ol western justice.

[Concho]

That rifle is not an AK-47.

[fallujah-nuker]

That rifle is not an AK-47.

I think your right, I wonder what it is.

[Bringbackthedraft]

AK sporter? Is that magazine legal?

[PJammers]

AK-47 is a good choice. Cheap ammo, good rate of fire, LOUD, better than average stopping power, rugged, and you can get one for about 300 bucks. One drawback would be that they are not so good at long range.

I also agree with the post above that the weapon he is carrying is not an AK but some kind of variant.

[ikka]

Could it be an SKS?

[Fruitbat]

"I just hope they've moved on - for their sake."

I kinda hope they haven't, for our sake! :D

[fallujah-nuker]

AK sporter? Is that magazine legal?

It seems too long for an AK47, I'm trying to figure what it is. Reporter must have seen the banana clip and thought "AK47." Some sort of varmit buster, just being used on leg legged varmits.

[Concho]

It looks like a SAIGA, maybe in .223, although they are available in .308. However it is not an AK.

[rfreedom4u]

As long as the interloper isn't in bayonet range I think the miner will be fine. Someone should start a defense fund for the day the ACLU attacks him for defending what's his.

[fallujah-nuker]

Could it be an SKS?

I have several SKS but they all feed by ten round stripper clips from the top.

[daler]

"Cowboys take up AK47s to combat drug runners on Mexican frontier"

You'd think they'd be more concerned about the Lions. :)

[Concho]

What does legal have to do with defending your life and your property on the Mexican border of Texas?

I suspect that the last thing anyone on this side worries about is whether their magazines are legal. Dont give the ATF commies something else to harass people about.

[BadAndy]

"Could it be an SKS?"

Definietly not an SKS. The safety is the AK47 type. The upper gas tube is completely enclosed in the stock which is not the case with an SKS or AK.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"... I wonder what it is.'

Saiga.

Michael Frazier

[jsmith48]

It is an SKS. A fairly accurate weapon, good size round, standard capacity, and at a very good price.

[sheana]

Hubby agrees, Kalashnikov Sporter

[jsmith48]

Never mind, I'm wrong.

[Kirkwood]